Ft Stockton to Big Bend then Alamogordo to Carlsbad? Route?

[FrancineChick]

Me again! We will be traveling from Abilene area to Phoenix and want to visit Big Bend Nat'l Park, Alamogordo Park and Carlsbad. We have looked at route maps and see there are some big hills that might be difficult in a 5th wheel. Any advise on routes? We thought maybe hwy 285 to 380 to 70? We had a big surprise a bit ago with our brakes so we don't want anymore surprises. TY

[timandsusan]

I finally stopped driving 285 from Ft. Stockton to Roswell this year. From San Antonio, we just stayed on I-10 via El Paso to get to Santa Fe. Yes, it is longer but the ease on the rig and driver is wonderful along with convenient roadside parks for breaks. I will leave 285 to all the oil field and pipeline working folks! They are busy.

[frizzen]

Second Chance wrote:
By "Alamogordo Park" do you mean White Sands National Monument? The city park isn't much to look at...

Rob

But it does have a free dump station.

If you go north from Van Horn to 62/180 and then east to Carlsbad you will have to go up Guadalupe Pass. It's about 6 or 7 miles to the top after you turn and has some 7% grade. 82 from Artesia to Alamogordo has a long downhill from Cloudcroft but it's not too bad. I have been up and down it with my 5er a few times. Once with a 12 foot trailer and two quads behind the camper. Great view of White Sands just after you go through the tunnel on the way down.

70 will go over Apache Summit on the west side of Ruidoso. If you want to avoid both hills you can take 82 up and then cut over to 70 just before you get to Cloudcroft. It will cut into 70 about halfway down Apache Summit. 20 some miles but pretty country. Don't remember the highway number but it goes across the Mescalero reservation. Watch your speed on the res.

[TexasShadow]

it has been several years, but we drove highway 54 from Van Horn up to 62 and it was a good road, not heavily traveled. Guadalupe National Park is near the junction if you care to take a look or camp overnight. Then east to Carlsbad, north to Roswell, west and south to Ruidoso and on down to Tularosa, etc.

[Second_Chance]

4huskers wrote:
US 285 between Loving, NM and Pecos, TX is a mess. That's the best that can be said about it.

I would add the word "horrible!" We did it last March in the rig and I was embarrassed to call myself a native New Mexican...

Rob

[4huskers]

US 285 between Loving, NM and Pecos, TX is a mess. That's the best that can be said about it.

[2gypsies1]

From Abiliene, take I-20 west to Monahans and pick up Hwy 18 to Fort Stockton then 385 into Big Bend Nat'l Park. Rio Grande Village campground is very nice.

Leave Big Bend either via 385 or 118 to Hwy 90. Take Hwy 90 to Van Horn, TX then 54 north to 62/180 east to Carlsbad, NM.

To get to Alamogordo, NM you'll take 285 north to Roswell then 70 to Alamogordo/White Sands Nat'l Monument. Definitely don't take Hwy 82 from Artesia to Alamogordo - very steep.

Another way to White Sands from Carlsbad would be to backtrack on 62/180 to El Paso and Hwy 54 north to Alamogordo.

From Alamogordo to Phoenix in winter it's best to take 70 to I-10 west.

You won't have any big hills on these routes but will have ups and downs. It's not a completely flat drive.

[RE_Todd]

No big mountains. The 285 south of Carlsbad is beat up by the drill trucks. 285 to the relief route in Roswell to the 70 is a good road. I run over the hill to Alamogordo all of the time. A tougher hill is the 70 from White Sands Missile Range to Las Cruces, just take your time!!

[Second_Chance]

By "Alamogordo Park" do you mean White Sands National Monument? The city park isn't much to look at...

Rob